After 50 years of research, scientists have yet to build a robot that can learn to manipulate new objects as proficiently as a one-year-old child. Robots don't react well to new situations; most of their movements must be programmed in advance. Some use sensors to fine-tune their movements in real time, but they generally don't retain and interpret the sensor data. So while they might navigate a room without bumping into things, they can't stop to help rearrange the furniture.

But now advances in sensors, software, and computer architecture are beginning to give robots a sense of their "bodies" and of what sorts of actions are safe and useful in their environments. The results could eventually include more effective robotic assistants for the elderly and autonomous bots for exploring battlefields and space.